Our Adventure in Ecuador December 2022
Jessica, Nicole, Gil and I left SLC the evening of December 7 and by 2 pm on December 8 we were at Centro Del Mundo outside of Quito, Ecuador. The monument marks zero longitude and zero latitude.
Our destination was Cuenca, Ecudaor and OSSO orphanage there. We made it there later on Dec. 8 . The next day we started our humanitarian experience at OSSO and that afternoon went to Taddeo Torres orphanage next door. There we did a Christmas party for orphans ages 3 to 10. We played games with them, decorated sugar cookies, and let them.decorate individual paper Christmas trees.
That night we took a taxi into downtown Cuenca to see the sights and have dinner. The first of many evenings in town exploring and experiencing.
I won’t have many pictures of the orphans at OSSO because we weren’t allowed to take face on pictures of them. But, I can share some of our experiences with words.
We started our shift at OSSO around 8 in the morning. We would help feed, brush teeth, dress the children. Then we would do our best to involve them in activities..reading them a book, making simple cards, singing songs, pushing them around the yard in their wheelchairs and sometimes just holding their hands and being with them.
The children at OSSO have severe disabilities. Many of them severe cerebral palsy that makes them unable to feed or dress themselves or even speak. The Tias (aunts in Spanish) temderly care for them day in and day out. We were just there to assist them and worked under their direction.
We helped with breakfast and lunch and then returned to our house. We ate and had a siesta or prepared for the afternoon activities. Then we went back to OSSO or to a different orphanage in Cuenca or Azogues for the afternoon.
There is a recent video of 3 Nephi 17 which shows Jesus Christ’s interaction with the children of the Nephites after his death and Resurrection. Looking into the eyes of those beautiful children, descendants of the children the Savior ministered to was such an emotional experience for me. I know someday they will be healed and whole. I felt the Savior’s love for them so strongly as I served them. It was such a blessing in my life and in the lives of Jessica, Nicole and Gil.
More to come….
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